Hand trucks provided with detachable dollies



March 20, 1956 F. ESSIG 2,738,983

HAND TRUCKS PROVIDED WITH DETACHABLE DOLLIES Filed Oct. s, 1955 s Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

BYZ/ Q4? F. ESSIG March 20, 1956 HAND TRUCKS PROVIDED WITH DETACHABLE DOLLIES Filed 001,. 8, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

F. ESSIG March 20, 1956 HAND TRUCKS PROVIDED WITH DETACHABLE DOLLIES Filed Oct. 8, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN V EN TOR.

United States Patent "ice 2,738,983 HAND TRUCKS PROVIDED WITH DETACHABLE DOLLIES Fred Essig, Chicago, Ill. Application October8, 1953, Serial No. 384,885 a 2 Claims. 7 (Cl. Z80--34) This invention relates to a hand truck assembly useful for moving heavy equipment such as pianos, stoves, refrigerators, hot water heaters, oil drums and the like.

An object of this invention is to produce a portable hand truck in which the main frame of said truck is constructed to permit the insertion of a removable dolly therein. When said dolly is thus inserted, the main frame of the truck may be tilted to a horizontal. position and then used as a push truck to move a load of equipment in a desired place as, for instance, in a moving van. By tilting the truck forward, the dolly may be easily removed and the load set down on the frame which thentserves as a stationary skid which will not slide or roll about. Another object of this invention is to produce a portable hand truck in which the forward end of said truck is adapted to receiving a removable dolly attachment at substantially a right angle thereto. Anadvantage of such a detachable section at the forward end of the frame of said hand truck is realized when two or more operators are at the opposite ends of the horizontally placed truck frame attempting to put a heavy object thereupon. The encumbrance of the ordinary stationary end member is eliminated while loading, and yet when it becomes neces-' sary to up-end the object for moving through small or narrow corridors, the required dolly may be readily at tached to the main frame. I I g, i

A further object of this invention is to provide rapidly inwardly toward the center of the rectangular hand truck frame.

At the forward end of said truck is a set of wheels 7, 7 rotat-ably mountedon an axle 8 and held against the sides of the frame by a pair of brackets 9, 9'. When the operator desires to tilt the frame to more conveniently move a load, he applies a downward pulling or lifting'force on.

a handle 10 located at the rearward end of the frame, the fulcrum of 'the'frame being located at the forward wheels 7, 7'.

Means is provided on the frame for releasably retaining a dolly Men the lower surface thereof, said dolly including a rectangular frame having side, members 15, end members 16 and 17, and casters 18. The side and end members normally bear against the inner surfaces of the sides 2, 2' and cross members 4 and 5 of the hand truck frame respectively, while the upper surfaces of said sideing having a clearance hole 20 extending therethrough.

longitudinally of the frame and covered at its ends by cover plates 21. A locking pin 22 slidably extends through holes in said cover plates axially of said clearance hole 20 and has a handle 23 formed on its end adjacent to the,

handle 10. A compression spring .24 is located on the locking pin between the end plates and has its end remote from the handle 23 contacting the cotter pin 25 extending.

transversely through said locking pin. A wear plate26, is

manipulated means for locking the aforesaid dollies to the main frame of the hand truck. I

A further object of my invention is to provide a com v pact multiple purpose piece of equipment which will con: sume a minimum amount of space in a moving van and still make available to the operator extra dollies which may be used independently of the hand truck. Such dollies are especially useful for moving miscellaneous household equipment.

In accomplishing these and other objects of'my invention, hereinafter pointed out, I have provided improved structures which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure l is a perspective view of the device including the frame of the hand truck with a removable dolly intion at the forward end of said frame.

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail view of a spring release 7 means used for holding a dolly within the main frame.

Figure 3 is a'fragmentary perspective view of a means for connecting a dolly to the forward end of said hand truck.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of an alternative means of connecting a dolly to the forward end of said hand truck.

Figure 5 is another fragmentary perspective view of still another alternative means of connecting a dolly to the forward end of the hand truck.

Referring to the drawings in Figure 1, there is shown a hand truck in which the numeral l'designates a rectangular frame structure formed by the parallel side members 2, 2', and end members 3, 3'. The side members 2, 2 are braced by the transversely extending cross members 4 and 5. Extending the full length of the side members and mounted on the upper surfaces thereof are a pair of platform members. These platforms are substantially flush with the outer sides of the side members and project located on the lower surface of the end member 16 of the dolly adjacent to the housing 19 and is normally engaged by the free end of the locking pin 22. A retainer plate 27 is located centrally of the underside of the cross member 5 of the hand truck frame and extends a short distance over the lower surface of the end member 17 of the dolly.

In operation, the dolly 14 may be quickly removed from the hand truck by pulling the locking pin 22 rearwardly to disengage its free end from the wear plate26 atthe rearward end of the dolly. This permits the forward end of the dolly. to be pulled clear of the retainer plate-27.- When the handle23 of the locking pin 22 is released, the pin is returned to its normal locking position by the expansion of the spring 24 against the cotter pin 25.

It is apparent that the above described dolly 14 may b inserted into the main frame of the hand truck without regard for the angle at which the frame may be tilted. Of course, as the frame approaches a horizontal position, sufiicient room must be allowed for the casters 18 of the I dolly.

Referring now to Figure 3, there is disclosed a means for. assembling and locking a second dolly 30 to the for-' the forward ends of the platform members 6, 6' of the frame, Into said slots 33 are placed a pair of arm extensions 34 of the forward end dolly 30. In order to put the arm extensions into the slots 33, the forward end dolly 30 is first tilted forward so that it forms an acute angle with the truck frame.

Projecting from the under surface of the arm extensions 34 and mounted thereon are a pair of channel members 35. When the arm extensions 34 are inserted into the slots 33 the vertical legs 32 become engaged with- V in said channels 35 longitudinally thereof. Projecting into the center of each channel and parallel to its sides Patented Mar. 20, 1956.

Q is a stationary pin member 36, said pin member being attached to the base of the channel about one-fourth of the distance from the top of the channel to the bottom. When the arm extensions 34 are fully insertedinto the slots 33, the 'pin 36 is in line with an orifice 37 located in the vertical legs 32 of the angle irons 31. By adjusting'the tilt of the forward end dolly 30 s than forms a ri'ght angl with the truck frame, the pin i 'ss'es ofigh the 'dnfice 37 and locates said dolly in post ion, der to lock each angle iron leg 32 securely in its e135 'a lo'ckingpin 38 is slidably mounted through p rt'nr'es 39 in the sides of each channel adjacent to the pin 36 to contact the outer surface 'of "each said 16g 32. Each pin 38 preferably has a hinged tip 4Qwhichin' tinny depends one vertical to prevent accidental removalof said pin from its channel 35. The dolly 30 is disengaged frbin the truck frame by tilting it forward and lifting it on fof thes"lots33. The above construction permits the operator to attach or join the forward end dolly '30 and the truck frame l with equal facility whether the main fr e i's bearing "a load of equipment or whether the Thad is on 'thedolly itself. I v V In Figure 4 an alternative means of cdnnect'iiigthe rat-h rd endfdolly at the forward "endfof the truck is shown ln this form of my invention there mbdiited on e under surface of the forward end dolly arr'n extensio S 34 a transversely extending cross member 42, terminalendsfof said member being locatedadjacent t9 the "er side of the channel members 35. Assembled o 'n e ess member '42 is a pair of U-shap'e'd bracket Inembers 43 which retractable elongated pin members 44fareslidably mounted, said pins being supported in line withone another and parallel to the cross member 42 he pins 44 extendfrom about the center of thecross rnei iiber 42 to the channels 35 where they pass respectively through the orifices 39 in a similar manner to the pins 38 tb lo'elcthe forward end dolly 30 in position A handle 45 is located at the inner end of each pin 44. A'eompjr'ess ion spring '46 is located on each pin 44 between niggnqs of its bracket 43 and has its end remote from the handle :45 abutting a cotter pin 47 extending transversely through-said pin 44. v n V ra the use and operation 'of the above described elerrients, "the operator pulls handles 44 simultaneously toward one another. As he does so the cotter pins impinge against the coil springs 46 to compress same. This draws thefterminal ends of the pins 440t1t0fjihe orifices 39. This permits the forward end dolly 30 "to be tilted and removed from the hand truck to which it attached. 1

[In Figure is shown another means for connecting a forward end dolly 30 to a hand truck of the type I have described. This means is similar to that shown in Figure 4, except that the brackets 43 with spring loaded pins 44 are located on the dolly extension arms 34 in line with the channels 35. No apertures are required in the channels 35as the terminal ends of the pins 44 extend directly over the angle ironle'gs 32 to lock them in their respectivechannels 35 while said legs'are positioned therein by the pins 44. The opposite ends of the pins'44 are connectedlby a'rod 48 extending transversely of the forward end dolly 30 and a T-shaped handle 49 projects from the center of said rod 48 at right angles thereto to permit the simultaneous retraction of said pins 44.

It 'is obvious from the above described locking means that both dollies 14 and 30 can be quickly connected to or removed from the hand truck when not required thereon for moving a particular object, and that said dollies can be made available for other uses during said moving operations without having to be permanently connected tothe hand truck.

4 While in the above specification I have set forth my invention in considerable detail, it will be understood that many variations may be made in these details without departing from the scope and spirit of my invention.

What I claim is: '1. A hand truck of the character described comprising a rectangular frame having a'pair of end members and a pair of side members, said side members each having a platform member extending longitudinally of its upper surface, a eross men tber extending transversely of said frame a sort distance inwardlyof each end member, a pair of wheels journalled at the forward end of said terairt t 21 an; w at e s tt i n tf w and upwardly of theforward end of said frame, :1 rectangular dolly slidably fitting the inner surfaces of the side members and the cross members to contact the undersidedf the platform manners, and means detachablycbnmeeting said dolly to said frame comprising a retaining plate attached to the underside of the orward cross Ine tia to slightly overlap the bottom of the dolly, a housing located on the underside of the rear "crass fine'rnber having a clearance hole extending thereth'rough longitfidinallyof the frame, a cov'e'r plate extending across each end o'f'th'e hole, a locking in slidably extending 'thrdiigh holes'insaidplates a'xiallyofsaid clearance hole normally to l'ghtly overlap the bottom of the 'dolly, a handle for ed 'on the rearward end of said pin, a compression spring ldcated'on said pin between said cover plates and a cjcittefr pin extendin'g transversely of said locking pin to cbiitict the forward end of the spring.

2. hand truck of the character described comprising a 'reetangular frame having a pair of end members and "r of side members, said side members each having a pl'a form member extending 'longitudin'aly of its upper siirfac'e, 'a cross member extending transversely of said fifin'ie anion distance inwardly of each end member, a pair of wheeIs journall ed at the forward end of said frame, s an of angle iron members extending forwardly and upwardlyof the forward end'ofsaid frame, a rectangular ddlly slidably fitting the inner surfaces of the side members 'thebross members to contact the underside of the platform members and means detachably connecting saiddoll'y to said frame, a second dolly and means defachably connecting said second dolly to the forward end ofthe frarne at right angles thereto comprising a pair of parallel arms extendingoutwardly of one end of'said secan dolly, a channel member located longitudinally of the surface'of each extension arm adjacent to the extre mitythereof, a stationary pin extending outwardly of thejbottom of each channel, a locking pin slidably located in holes extending transversely of the fianges of each channehsaid holes being spaced at least the thicknessof the zirigleir'dn outwardly of the channel bottom, a slot I t'd 'b et'ween 'the forward end of each platform member anda vertical leg of each angle iron, and a locating ho extending through each vertical leg adjacent the top f, whereby when the extremities of the extension olffth said second dolly are placed in said slots, the stationarypins of the channels extend into said holes to locate the vertical legs of the angle irons in position rfoinerting said locking pins through the holes in said hannl'flangesfsaid second dolly being adapted to part ally suppdrt an object thereupon while the weight in the r ernainder of the object is borne by the forward Wheels of the dolly within the frame.

ntrncs Cited in the are or this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

